←Recommendations of 18

  • Ally Varitek: 18 by Darius M. Buckley
    “

    Other recommendations touch on the genius of this playwright's poetry, and so I'd love to uplift the rhythm of the language in this piece. Pacing and poetic verse work together in this play with a deeply empathic slam. The increasing speed and intensity generated by the arc of this narrative offers a feeling both jarring and honest about the realities of mass incarceration for Black youth. I saw this piece multiple times at the OOB Festival as a festival coordinator and can't help but also highlight how heart-forward Darius is as a playwright. A must-read and a need-to-see-again.

    Other recommendations touch on the genius of this playwright's poetry, and so I'd love to uplift the rhythm of the language in this piece. Pacing and poetic verse work together in this play with a deeply empathic slam. The increasing speed and intensity generated by the arc of this narrative offers a feeling both jarring and honest about the realities of mass incarceration for Black youth. I saw this piece multiple times at the OOB Festival as a festival coordinator and can't help but also highlight how heart-forward Darius is as a playwright. A must-read and a need-to-see-again.

    ”
  • Emma Goldman-Sherman: 18 by Darius M. Buckley
    “

    Great work. Intense, pulls the audience into the piece and never lets us go. Theatrical language, easily producible, unforgettable work. I highly recommend this moving piece about mass incarceration of Black youth, tragic and well crafted. I hope it gets produced everywhere. A must-see.

    Great work. Intense, pulls the audience into the piece and never lets us go. Theatrical language, easily producible, unforgettable work. I highly recommend this moving piece about mass incarceration of Black youth, tragic and well crafted. I hope it gets produced everywhere. A must-see.

    ”
  • Jillian Blevins: 18 by Darius M. Buckley
    “

    With soaring, slam-poetry-inflected language and deep empathy, 18 invites us into the hearts and stories of two teenagers whose lives are upended by racist policing and mass incarceration. Buckley’s play challenges us to truly see the victims of a system that disproportionately impacts young men of color by giving voice to their dreams, their fears, their souls.

    The use of heightened language in 18 is powerful, revealing truth in a way that only poetry can. Work like this is proof positive that verse drama has a future in American theatre.

    With soaring, slam-poetry-inflected language and deep empathy, 18 invites us into the hearts and stories of two teenagers whose lives are upended by racist policing and mass incarceration. Buckley’s play challenges us to truly see the victims of a system that disproportionately impacts young men of color by giving voice to their dreams, their fears, their souls.

    The use of heightened language in 18 is powerful, revealing truth in a way that only poetry can. Work like this is proof positive that verse drama has a future in American theatre.

    ”
  • Shelby Seeley: 18 by Darius M. Buckley
    “

    I had the privilege of seeing this piece performed at the 48th Annual Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival. It was outstanding and left me blown away. The poetry cuts to the heart of the characters and their circumstances and heightens the drama. The text drives and soars. Somehow it accomplishes being both tender (about the characters) and razor sharp (about the issue of police brutality and mass incarceration). WATCH THIS PLAYWRIGHT.

    I had the privilege of seeing this piece performed at the 48th Annual Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival. It was outstanding and left me blown away. The poetry cuts to the heart of the characters and their circumstances and heightens the drama. The text drives and soars. Somehow it accomplishes being both tender (about the characters) and razor sharp (about the issue of police brutality and mass incarceration). WATCH THIS PLAYWRIGHT.

    ”
  • t.j. ayende Youmans: 18 by Darius M. Buckley
    “

    A poetic ride inside the dynamic yet dangerous lives experienced by many young black males. The drama builds from birth until... the final clink of hope when the author leaves us to wonder. What can we do?
    What should be done? This short is significant and generates a feeling you think you feel when walking down certain streets past certain people _ then you realize you've been enlightened.

    A poetic ride inside the dynamic yet dangerous lives experienced by many young black males. The drama builds from birth until... the final clink of hope when the author leaves us to wonder. What can we do?
    What should be done? This short is significant and generates a feeling you think you feel when walking down certain streets past certain people _ then you realize you've been enlightened.

    ”
  • claire dettloff: 18 by Darius M. Buckley
    “

    from the very first line, "18" expertly grabs the reader's attention and brings us along on an intense journey across just 14 pages. it's a feat to craft completely compelling characters in such a short time, but buckley does this with ease. this is a truly beautiful play about police brutality and mass incarceration that should be produced everywhere. a must see/read.

    from the very first line, "18" expertly grabs the reader's attention and brings us along on an intense journey across just 14 pages. it's a feat to craft completely compelling characters in such a short time, but buckley does this with ease. this is a truly beautiful play about police brutality and mass incarceration that should be produced everywhere. a must see/read.

    ”